Chapter Six - Cash or Charge
~A few days later~
Kichiko pulled back her covers and placed her small bare feet on the cold wood floor. She stood up and stretched, feeling refreshed. Today was the day she would leave this pleasant little town and continue her path to finding a permanent place she could call her own. A place where she could worry only of her own well being. She turned around and made the bed that was no longer her prison; pulling the patch work quilt over the pillow and tucking the sheets in for the next soul that needed a place to rest their bones.
After finishing her chores she stepped outside the door to bid a farewell to the kind people who had nourished her back to health.
"It's not that I don't want to look at the flowers with you Jake," Cecilia started. "I'm just not sure if Kyle was going to ask me. I wouldn't want to let him down; he's such a kind person."
"Yeah well I was only trying to be nice; I didn't really want to look at any stupid blossoms anyways."
"Oh... well thanks for asking me than, that was very sweet of you."
"Oh to be young and in love." Egan's voice sounded from behind Kichiko. "I remember the first time I asked a girl to the Cherry Blossom festival. After being rejected I swore I'd never ask any girl on a date again." He chuckled at his childish memories. "Do you think anyone's going to ask you Kichiko?"
"Oh uhm, it really doesn't matter, I'm not going to be here." She announced, not turning to face him.
"Oh? You feel well enough to leave today?" Egan sounded surprised.
"Kichiko?" Cecilia questioned, turning to look at the tow of them as if she hadn't noticed they had come into the room. "You're leaving already?"
"Yes." She nodded. "I wanted to thank you for all your hospitality and then I'll be out of your way."
"Oh, no thanks are in order. We are all happy to have had you staying with us. I'm afraid I'll be collecting your payment and you can be on your way, I'm sure Ceci will even be kind enough to pack you a mean for the road."
Cecilia nodded in agreement.
"Payment?" Kichiko questioned. She hadn't even thought of that.
"Yes, nine nights comes to a total of 900G."
"N-nine-hundred?" Kichiko stuttered, using all her strength to keep her jaw from dropping to the floor. "I-I don't even have 100."
"Oh dear... this is a problem." Egan tapped his chin a moment, not sure what to do. He couldn't afford to let the girl leave free of charge.
"Humans." Jake scoffed. "Always expecting everyone else to bend over backwards for them, how selfish."
"Jake! Don't talk like that!" Cecilia scolded, embarrassed by his rudeness.
"Maybe we can work something out, I have an idea." Egan spoke.
Kichiko nodded slowly, her cheeks were still red from Jake's outburst and she felt near tears. "I'll do anything I can to pay you back."
"That's good to hear." Egan smiled. "So you would be willing to take up Cecilia's job around the Inn? She has so much to do, taking care of two houses. You can pay me back for the nights you owe; I'll give you free board for the following nights you'll be spending here. After a month you should be ready to go. How does that sound?"
Cecilia and Egan watched Kichiko expectantly, waiting for an answer.
One more month? And she was so close to being free. But what choice did she have? Running way from these people after all they'd done for her was not an option. "I'll do it." Kichiko whispered.
"Great! You can start right away."
"Oh this is wonderful!" Cecilia ran up and gave her a hug. "I'm so glad you're going to stay with us longer."
Kichiko forced a smile but stayed silent.
"Ceci, would you mind showing Kichiko what to do?" Egan asked, opening a drawer and pulling out a large key. "Here's a copy of our skeleton key, it will allow you access to any of the rooms, but don't loose it, it's our last copy."
"Come on Kichiko, I'll show you where all the cleaning supplies are kept."
--
After dusting all the shelves, sweeping the floors, and filing some important paper work, Kichiko was sent out in search of Kyle to ask for a purchase of fresh spring vegetables to make for supper.
She walked along the road admiring the cherry blossoms; today they seemed exceptionally beautiful, as if the word festival had cast a spell on them. No wonder today was a day for lovers. It would be so romantic to stand under one of those large trees with the branches sagging heavy with flowers.
Kichiko's day dreams were interrupted by a horde of swooning girls.
"My date was so wonderful; I couldn't have imagined anything better." She recognized Cecilia among them.
"It couldn't have been anything compared to mine. It was more spectacular than I predicted." A girl wearing a very flamboyant purple outfit commented, dismissing Cecilia's tale.
The third girl giggled, smiling sweetly. "My date reminded me of the day I first met him."
"Oh, Kichiko!" Cecilia saw her new house mate and waved her over. "This is Kichiko; she's the girl Egan hired. Kichiko this is Alicia and Mana." Cecilia introduced.
"Has anyone asked you to see the cherry blossoms with them yet?" Mana asked, flashing her a warm friendly smile.
Kichiko shook her head.
"Oh! Let me read your fortune," Alicia took hold of Kichiko's small hands and closed her eyes, not waiting for any sort of consent. "Holy hala, bobi lala, jim jala bim!" She chanted.
Just as Kichiko was about to pull way Alicia's eyes popped open.
"You're going to see the flowers with someone today. A boy, from this town."
"Oh, Kichiko, how exciting!" Cecilia gushed.
"Oh uhm... yes, thank you." Kichiko tried her best to smile politely. What kind of fortune was that? Of course if she were to be asked it would be by a boy from this town.
"That will be 20G." Alicia held out a hand.
"W-what? But you didn't give me a choice."
"Don't worry, I'll pay." Kyle appeared from the trail opening behind the four of them.
"T-thank you."
The other girls eyed her with a slight hint of jealousy.
"It's no problem." he smiled. "I've actually been looking for you Kichiko. I was wondering if you'd like to look at the flowers with me."
"What are you talking about Kyle? You already asked me!" Alicia burst out angrily.
"You went to see the flowers with Kyle? But he asked me to see the flowers..." Mana pointed out, becoming frustrated.
"Kyle I thought I was the only one you asked." Cecilia turned on him.
Kichiko took this moment of confrontation to slip away. She really didn't want to go on a date with Kyle anyways. Though she was going to dread coming home to Egan empty handed. She supposed she'd have to explain that Kyle was busy and could not be disturbed.
Kichiko continued to walk to the left, hoping that it would loop around back to the inn. She had a horrible sense of direction and figured she might end up in some strange new town.
Instead she came across the most beautiful tree she had ever seen. An elegantly crafted wood bench sat underneath, beckoning for her to sit and rest a while. Kichiko couldn't resist and sat down, feeling a moment of peace.
"That worthless... Why would she agree to go with him? I don't understand what's so special about him." A deep voice carried to Kichiko's ears, becoming closer by the second. The distress the voice held upset Kichiko; this festival didn't seem to be bringing happiness to anyone.
"Why doesn't he just stay on that farm of his--" The boy stopped, spotting Kichiko watching him. It was the blue eyed boy from before.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded, trying to cover up his embarrassment.
"I-I'm sorry!" She jumped up. "I was just enjoying the flowers." She made to leave, her face flushed for she was now also embarrassed.
After a small hesitation the boy gave a slight flutter of his hand, turning his gaze away from her. "N-no it's okay, you can stay, I guess." He spoke softly.
She sat back down, unsure if he was just trying to show some decency or if he really didn't mind her staying.
The two of them stayed there, appreciating the flowers, not looking at one another, but secretly enjoying having the other there.
